In our post, "Foods to Avoid While Breastfeeding," we discussed some common triggers for a colicky baby. If your baby is fussy or has a reaction after nursing please check out that post to learn more about common threats to a breastfeeding relationship and how to keep a food journal. Breastfeeding and thrush is its own kind of special situation. Thrush is essentially a yeast infection on and around your nipples and inside the baby's mouth. There is a yeast naturally found in your body called candida, but it can cause problems when the yeast grows out of control. Thrush can be a beast (I call it the "yeast beast") and hard to get rid … [Read more...]
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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.
Shary Lopez is a late-twenties, nerdy gal living in Tampa Bay. Her family consists of a bearded husband and two children: one eight-year-old daughter and one very adventurous toddler boy. As a childbirth junkie and breastfeeding advocate, Shary tries to lean her family towards natural living while still grasping onto convenience and frugality. You can find more of her writings on Shary's personal blog, Atta Mama. Shary is also on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Considering Weaning at 4 Months? What You Should Know
It is no surprise that breastfeeding is sometimes a difficult and frustrating journey. Despite what some might say, breastfeeding doesn't come easy. As a general rule, once a new mother gets past the 6 weeks mark things can be smooth sailing. However, some moms find themselves revisiting the idea of weaning at 4 months. Four months is a common breastfeeding hurdle. With the right information you can prepare for what's to come and rest assured you and your baby can get past this. Why You Might Consider Weaning at 4 Months, and What You Should Know The 4 Month Sleep Regression It is no secret that as humans we need sleep to … [Read more...]
Why is my breastfed baby smaller than formula fed babies?
Women's bodies are amazing when it comes to growing infants. We create tiny human beings within our own bodies, are capable of immeasurable strength to birth them, and we can nourish a growing infant with milk from our own breasts. Our breast milk typically has everything our babies need. Then why is it that a breastfed baby is sometimes smaller than formula fed babies? Why is My Breastfed Baby Smaller than Formula Fed Babies? Normal Weight Loss and Gain Babies lose weight immediately following their birth. They then have ten days to gain that weight back. Weight gain is expected to slowly increase as babies grow. Typically, … [Read more...]
Myth Busters: Will Pumping Show You How Much Breast Milk You Have?
(Editor's Note: During the month of May, Breastfeeding Place contributors will be sharing posts that address common breastfeeding myths. We sincerely hope this will be an enlightening and helpful series!) It is common for new breastfeeding moms to question whether or not they are making enough milk for their baby. Breast milk is so mysterious. The new baby is breastfeeding for the first time and he or she may not give you all the information you need to gauge satisfactory output. However, pumping is not an accurate measurement method. Clues That Baby is Getting Enough The number one way to tell if your baby is … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Breastfeeding with Postpartum Depression
After a new baby is born your hormones are out of whack. Thus it is normal for mom to feel sad and bluesy. About 85% of new moms get the baby blues. But if the sadness intensifies or lasts longer than a few weeks after delivery, that could mean postpartum depression has hit home for you. Depending on your ability to recognize the changes, having a healthy breastfeeding relationship is possible. Postpartum depression and anxiety disorders affect 20% of new moms. They can come on slow, hit suddenly, or anywhere in the first 6 months after the birth of your baby. The most important thing to know about postpartum depression is that it is … [Read more...]
How Placenta Consumption Can Boost Breast Milk Production
The placenta is one of the most wondrous things about birth. Once baby is born, many people sigh relief and move on, signaling the end of the giving-birth experience. But that organ that nourished your baby for their entire life until he or she came earth-side can help mama, too. Among other things, placenta consumption can boost breast milk production. Placentaphagy: the act of placenta consumption It's not as weird as it sounds. Many mammals consume the placenta after birth. Human placentaphagy has been around for hundreds of years, typically used in Chinese medicine for healing. These days there are more ways to consume your placenta … [Read more...]
What You Should Know Before Giving Up Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is no simple task. As an onlooker and a non-parent it may come off that way, but trust me when I say that even as a huge breastfeeding advocate I've had those moments when giving up breastfeeding seemed like a completely viable option. There are many factors to consider when making the decision for your family. The benefits of breastfeeding should not be ignored in moments of frustration, exhaustion, or weakness. Here are some facts to keep you going. Breastfeeding saves you money. The cost of formula for the first year is around $1,700 depending on the brand you use. This cost will vary depending on how long you … [Read more...]
Foods to Avoid While Breastfeeding
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If you do even an ounce of research you will soon notice that the list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding could go on for miles. A new mother might feel discouraged by noticing her favorite meals slowly diminishing for fear of upsetting her baby. The truth is that every baby is different and under normal situations no single food can be scratched out across the board. In fact, most babies tolerate all foods rather easily and new research even shows most mom's can safely have a drink or two while breastfeeding and caffeine is typically OK too. It is common for babies to be fussy in the first few months so don't be so quick to … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding with Pierced Nipples
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If you are asking yourself, "Can I breastfeed with pierced nipples?" then the short answer is absolutely! Breastfeeding with pierced nipples, or previously pierced nipples, is not an issue you or your baby need to fret over. There is no evidence that having pierced nipples will affect your breastfeeding relationship. The Issue with Piercings Some mothers do, however, notice an increase in clogged ducts while breastfeeding with pierced nipples. Consider the anatomy of a nipple and the surrounding breast tissue: The nipple itself is porous (milk flows from many different holes), while the breast is primarily fatty tissue with … [Read more...]
Medela Recycles + Medela Freestyle Giveaway
Welcome to the Medela Freecycle Pump Giveaway sponsored by Medela and hosted by The Pistachio Project. Recycling has become a pretty common activity in our everyday lives. We recycle at home, we recycle at work, we even have recycling bins on the streets now! But what about the bigger items that we no longer need? Take for instance, breastpumps. What do we do with breastpumps once we are done with our breastfeeding experience? Introducing Medela Recycles Medela has heard the voices of moms and taken the initiative to create Medela Recycles. Medela Recycles is a program which takes our old breastpumps and uses each one to support the … [Read more...]
